Outdoor notebook: Cut your own Christmas tree for the holidays

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2009, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Christmas is just around the corner, and people interested in cutting their own trees for decorating have begun gathering the proper permits. Some of Utah's national forests are already selling the permits, while others are about to offer them on a first-come, first-served basis. Permit holders must follow certain rules for cutting trees. Here's a rundown of specifics by forest.

Ashley National Forest

Flaming Gorge Ranger District » Permits available Nov. 27 at the district office, intersection of Highways 43 and 44, Manila; and the Green River Office, 1450 Uinta Drive, Green River, Wyo., weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits also will be available at Flaming Gorge Resort. Cost is $10 and there is a limit of one permit per household, one tree only. Any species may be cut except ponderosa pine.

Duchesne and Roosevelt ranger districts » A limited number of permits available beginning Nov. 27, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Duchesne office, 85 W. Main; or the Roosevelt office, 650 W. Highway 40. Permits also sold at the Hanna Country Store, State Route 35, Hanna (435-848-5752); and at Steward's Market, 245 W. Highway 40, Roosevelt (435-722-5650). Permits are $10, one per household, one tree only.

Individuals may purchase up to two additional permits on the Flaming Gorge and Vernal Ranger Districts, but permits must be issued in the names and addresses of the person for whom they are purchased (435-789-1181).

Dixie National Forest

Cedar City Ranger District » Permits available now at the district office, 1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits are $10, one permit per household, one tree only. The only species of trees that can be cut are sub-alpine fir, white fir and pinyon pine. Check with the district office before traveling the Cedar Breaks Road to obtain the most current road condition information (435-865-3700).

Escalante Ranger District » Permits available now at the Escalante Ranger District, 755 W. Main, Escalante, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits are $10, one permit per household, one tree only. All species of tree may be cut except bristlecone pine (435-826-5400).

Powell Ranger District » Permits available now at the district office, 225 E. Center St., Panguitch, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits are $10 for a tree up to 10 feet and $20 for a tree 11 to 20 feet. All species of trees can be cut except bristlecone pine (435-676-9300).

St. George Interagency Visitor Center » Permits available now at the center, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Permit also sold at Spanish Tail Supply Company, 21 S. Main, Veyo. Permits are $10; pinyon pine and juniper are the only species of trees that may be cut. One person can purchase up to five tags (435-688-3246 or 435-652-3100).

Fishlake National Forest

Beaver Ranger District » Permits now available the district office, 575 S. Main, Beaver, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Nov. 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Permits also sold at Beaver Sport and Pond, 85 N. Main, Beaver, 435-438-2100, daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Permits are $10, two permits per household, two trees only. All species of trees may be cut except ponderosa pine and blue spruce (435-438-2436).

Fillmore Ranger District » Permits available Nov. 16 at the district office, 390 S. Main, Fillmore, weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits are $10, one per household, one tree only. Any species of tree maybe cut except ponderosa pine (435-743-5721).

Fremont Ranger District » Permits now available at the district office, 138 S. Main, Loa, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits are $10, one per person, one tree only. Any species of tree may be cut except ponderosa pine. Permits also sold at the Teasdale Office, 138 E. Main, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Any species of tree may be cut (435-836-2811 ).

Ferron/Price Ranger Districts and Moab/Monticello Ranger Districts » Permits available at all offices beginning Nov. 23 at a cost of $10 each. District offices (in Ephraim, Ferron, Moab and Monticello) are open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The supervisor's office in Price is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, the Price office will be open Nov. 28 and Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Sanpete District will also sell permits Nov. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon at various sites.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Heber-Kamas Ranger District » Call 435-654-0470 or 435-783-4338 to check on availability.

Evanston/Mt. View Ranger Districts » Permits for the Evanston area will be available Nov. 16. Permits are $10, one per household, one tree only. Permits sold at the Evanston office, 1565 S. Highway 150, Suite A, Evanston, Wyo., weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits also sold at the Bear River Lodge, 30 miles south of Evanston on Mirror Lake Highway 150. Any species may be cut, but lodgepole pine is the main tree in the area. The gates on the Mirror Lake Highway and on the North Slope Road are typically closed during the first week of December, limiting access for people without a snow machine. Cutting is not allowed in the Lily Lake Cross Country Ski Area.

Permits for the Mt. View area also will be available Nov. 16. Permits are $10, one per household, one tree only, at the district office, 321 Highway 414, Mountain View, Wyo., weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits also sold at the Maverik Store, 655 N. Highway 414, Mountain View, Wyo. Any species may be cut (307-789-3194 or 307-782-6555).

Volunteers needed at Frontier Homestead

The newly renamed Frontier Homestead State Park Museum in Cedar City needs volunteers interested in educating visitors regarding the history of Cedar City and Iron County. The museum is developing a living-history village and related interactive programs about frontier life skills. The museum is looking for volunteers who want to be involved over the coming months and years as the Frontier Homestead continues to develop. Short-term opportunities also available. Contact the museum at 435-586-9290 for more information.

Ogden Nature Center

The Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th St., Ogden, is presenting "Mammal Mia!" Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m,. as part of its Wild Wednesdays program. Discover the species of mammals that live in Utah and the Great Basin region. The presentation will be followed by a short walk with a naturalist to look for mammals at the nature center. The event is free for members, $2 for children, $3 for seniors and $4 for adults. Call 801-621-7595 or visit ogdennaturecenter.org for more information.

Birding

Great Salt Lake Audubon is hosting a trip to the Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve, the mitigation wetlands on Kennecott property, on Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. Pomera Fronce will lead the trip, which is limited to 15 people. Call her at 801-272-2755 for more information and to reserve a spot.

Nov. 17 » The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal is holding an "Archaeology and Ethnology" program with the museum curator at 7 p.m. The tour is limited to 20 people, and reservations are required. Call 435-789-3799 for more information and to make a reservation.

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you've recently registered with Disqus or aren't seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account. See more about comments here.